We all know that Playa del Carmen has a vibrant culinary scene that bursts with flavor options from around the globe, but sometimes, after a day on the beach, you simply want a delicious meal delivered straight to your door.
That’s where the services for food delivery in Playa del Carmen come in! And in our bustling town, we’re lucky to have so many options – offering convenience and a taste of the town without leaving your hammock.
But with so many apps and call-based options, choosing the right one can feel like navigating a maze of menus. Fear not, foodies! This blog is your guide to the top contenders, helping you order like a pro and savor the best food Playa del Carmen has to offer, delivered!
Best Apps for Food Delivery in Playa Del Carmen
In the modern world, our smartphone connects us to everything – including our next meal. You can download apps to use in Playa del Carmen for food delivery, from the internationally known ‘Uber Eats’, to the Mexican version ‘Rappi’, and there are some local competitors too – like ‘Playa Now’ and ‘Playita Express’ if you prefer to avoid the big conglomerates!
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.
Uber Eats
While the Uber taxi system might not be available, in Playa, Uber Eats is thriving. One of its major pluses is the huge restaurant selection it offers, ranging from local favorites to international chains. Whether you’re in the mood for pizza, pasta, tacos, or sushi, Uber Eats has it covered. There’s always something for everyone’s tastes.
A benefit of Uber Eats is its real-time tracking feature, allowing you to follow your order every step of the way. Starting when the restaurant receives your order, it will update when the food is cooked, as the driver collects it, and then give you a live location as it comes to your casa! This complete transparency provides peace of mind, ensuring that you’re aware of exactly when your food will arrive.
The app itself is praised for its user-friendliness. Even first-time users find it easy to navigate. From browsing menus to managing payments, the entire process is simple. Uber Eats offers multiple payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and Uber Cash. The platform also often has promotions, coupons, and special deals, helping you to save money on your orders.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider. One notable downside is the additional fees associated with using Uber Eats. In addition to the cost of the food itself, there are service fees, delivery fees, and tips for the drivers. These charges can quickly add up, making meals more expensive than anticipated. It’s also worth noting that menu prices on Uber Eats may be higher than those in-person at the restaurant. This discrepancy could be due to the restaurant attempting to offset the costs of being on the app.
While Uber Eats boasts a vast restaurant selection, you’ll be missing out on some top local gems if you don’t explore on foot. Don’t miss out on local cuisines and budget-friendly options from taco carts and smaller family-run restaurants while you’re in town!
Rappi
If you haven’t been in Playa del Carmen for very long, Rappi might not be the first app that pops into your mind when you think of getting food delivered in Playa del Carmen, but trust me, it’s way more than just your average food delivery service. Think of it as the Mexican version of ‘Doordash’!
You can order not only your favorite meals using their app, but also groceries, medicines, pet supplies, and even a bottle of wine from their partnering stores. It’s like having a personal shopper right at your fingertips.
Just like other popular apps, Rappi gives you plenty of options when it comes to paying for your deliveries. Just as before, you can pay using a debit or credit card, but Rappi also gives you the option to pay cash in pesos on delivery.
If you’re in a hurry to satisfy those cravings, Rappi’s got your back with their “Express Delivery” option. For a small extra charge, they will bring your order even quicker. It works both ways, and there’s also a discount if you don’t mind your food coming slower. Although, I have tried both of these options and found that the ‘extra fast’, is usually just as fast as the normal delivery, and with the slower option, your food may come colder.
Similarly to Uber Eats, the selection of restaurants on the Rappi app is limited and you might not find your favorite spot on the list. You might also notice that you’re paying a tad more for your food compared to the restaurant’s standard pricing. But, when you factor in the convenience and all the stuff you can get delivered, it’s a small price to pay.
Playa Now
Now for more of a local touch. Playa Now is a localized service, that focuses on a selection of Playa del Carmen’s restaurants and offers personalized customer service. While the website-based platform might not be as flashy as the other apps, it supports local businesses and can help you to get a taste of Playa’s authentic flavors.
It has over 50 restaurants to choose from, and you make your order via a WhatsApp message to your delivery driver. You then pay cash on delivery with a $45 peso delivery charge for central areas, and up to $109 pesos for further away from Playa. If you want to pay with a card there is an added 5% fee.
This can often be the cheaper method of ordering, as the menus on the website for these restaurants correlate with the menu prices, so you don’t have to worry about price inflation. However, you don’t get the same level of customer service as you do with the likes of Uber Eats if you have a problem with your order.
Playita Express
Playita Express is another local service, similar to Playa Now. While the restaurant selection might not be as extensive, they accept cash payments and have flexible delivery times which make it a convenient choice. Their website isn’t as intuitive as Playa Now, and you need to find the small WhatsApp icon in the corner to make your order, as clicking on the restaurant images only opens the menus. (Although this is a good way to see restaurant menus for many Playa spots before you go! Often, they are tricky to find on social media!)
Delivery charges cost between 45-120 pesos, plus the obvious cost of your food, and you make your order via a WhatsApp message. Currently, they only accept cash on delivery, so make sure you have your pesos before you order!
There’s nothing better than eating together but in the comfort of your own home!
How to Choose Your Food Delivery Service
When comparing these food delivery services, they may seem much the same, but it’s worth being aware of more than one of them. Consider these factors before placing your order:
Craving specific cuisine
Check each service’s restaurant selection to see if they cater to your taste buds. While a particular restaurant might not be on one app, it may be available on another – so shop around!
Budget-conscious?
Compare delivery fees and minimum order amounts to avoid surprises. Some apps have a monthly package that allows you to make unlimited deliveries for a set recurring fee.
Tech-Savvy Benefits
For non-Spanish speakers, using the apps can often be easier as you can find all you need and order in your home language. Rappi even has a translate function built into the messaging system for when you communicate with your driver and shopper. The delivery services that use WhatsApp often communicate in Spanish.
Tracking and Delivery
We’ve all heard the same line that your order ‘is 5 minutes away’, but with the apps, they all have GPS that allows you to see where your food is in real-time. Using GPS like this is particularly useful in Playa, where most buildings don’t really have a name or number, so drivers can find you. (And often, you need to find them between the street numbers they gave you!)
Be aware of this with all delivery services in Playa, you will likely need to find your driver in the street yourself! Especially if you are in a larger building with security, you may need to meet them at reception as drivers cannot enter buildings unaccompanied.
Special Offers
Keep an eye out for promo codes and special offers to score even better deals on your food deliveries. Some of the bigger apps will send you money off coupons or offer free delivery to tempt you into ordering!
Beyond the Menu
The beauty (and convenience!) of these Delivery apps, is that you can order more than just food. Rappi and Uber Eats also allow you to order from selected local stores too.
Rappi does seem to have the widest selection for this. They have pharmacies listed for generic products (no prescription-only items), pet stores, liquor stores, and even supermarkets where you can order your products, and have a Rappi driver bring them to you. The in-app messaging service also allows your shopper to ask you questions and make swaps if needed.
No Apps – No Problem!
It’s also good to know that not all delivery options are on the apps. In fact, some of our favorite restaurants and cuisines are only available to order via their own delivery system.
A few notable mentions include:
LA Street Foods – This local joint has some of the best burritos in town with great prices. To order, you can use WhatsApp. They bring your food to you, can you pay in cash. But be aware, they are only available Monday to Friday, from 11am-6pm.
De Puro Cariño – Love freshly squeezed juices? De Puro Cariño offers personalized, eco-friendly juice delivery reminiscent of the traditional milkman service. You can choose your flavors and even customize a superfood blend. They bring your order in glass bottles, and with each new delivery, your empty bottles are exchanged for full ones, promoting sustainability. Delivery is available from Monday to Saturday, 7am to 11am, when pre-booked the day before on WhatsApp.
Angie’s Kitchen – Top Chinese food in the area which is always raved about in the expat forums! For this you need to order in advance (usually the day before, or before 3pm the same day if they are not fully booked) They will arrange a delivery time with you to drop off. There is a minimum order of 350 pesos.
Miss Dumpling – So, this isn’t a hot take-out food delivery, but rather frozen dumplings that are premade and delivered to your door. They’re super tasty and convenient to keep in the freezer for an emergency quick meal!
Food Preparation Delivery Services
Not only does Playa have restaurants to deliver top-notch food directly to you at home. You can also employ the services of a meal-prep service. There are a bunch of them locally who offer packages of lunches or dinner plans and deliver them to you fresh each day! (We will cover this in a new blog soon!)
Encouraging Education, Nourishing Futures: Food Delivery in Playa Del Carmen
With this guide in hand, you’re ready to navigate the Playa del Carmen food delivery scene like a seasoned pro and get deliveries to your door.
In a city where the aroma of delicious meals mingles with the laughter of children playing in the streets, it’s essential to recognize the impact of supporting initiatives like Keeping Kids in School (KKIS). As you savor the diverse flavors of Playa del Carmen delivered right to your doorstep, we can also embrace the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the youth in our town.
Many children in this part of Mexico struggle to be able to continue their education, as unlike in other places, high school education is not free. Often families can struggle with the admission fees, along with the price of resources, uniforms, and other supplies needed to continue their education.
The good news is it costs less than $2 USD per day to keep a student in high school. KKIS is a non-profit charity that works in Playa del Carmen to help to keep students in school.
So, as you relish in the comfort of a warm meal delivered with care, consider how you could skip the dessert and donate that cash to KKIS. Through a simple act of generosity, you can help a child in Playa del Carmen to have the opportunity to thrive.
Together, let’s pave the way for a future where no child is left behind. Donate to KKIS today, and let’s continue to shape the future, one delivery at a time.